Welcome to the Outdoor Journey for Seniors! This document is a step-by-step guide for completing the Senior Outdoor Journey it includes detailed meeting outlines and all related resources. The Senior Outdoor Journey consists of three badges: Adventurer, First Aid, and Adventure Camper. It also includes a Take Action project and award. You ll find that the Senior Outdoor Journey is rich and robust because it covers a lot of essential skills that girls need in order to be successful in their outdoor pursuits. To complete the Journey, girls will complete these meetings in the following order: Adventurer badge (2 meetings) First Aid badge (2 meetings) Adventure Camper badge (2 meetings) Take Action (3 meetings) In the descriptions for each meeting, you will find callouts to meeting aids. These meeting aids are grouped together, in the order in which they will appear, at the back of this document. The content found in this package can be downloaded and is identical to what is now available on the Volunteer Toolkit, which means it is written to the intended audience of an adult volunteer. We hope you will find everything you need to facilitate these programs and just as importantly, we hope your Senior Girl Scouts will find them exciting, challenging, and fun. Questions? Please don t hesitate to reach out to the Girl Experience team at GSUSA at girlexperience@girlscouts.org.
Adventurer 1 OVERVIEW Notes to Volunteers: About the Senior Outdoor Journey: The Senior Outdoor Journey consists of three badges: Adventurer, First Aid, Adventure Camper, and three Take Action meetings. To complete the Journey, have girls complete the meetings in the following order: Adventurer badge (2 meetings) First Aid badge (2 meetings) Adventure Camper badge (2 meetings) Take Action (3 meetings) Adventurer Requirements: There are two meetings for Seniors to earn their Adventurer badge. Meeting 1 can be held in a meeting room or outdoors. Meeting 2 is designed to be held at an outdoor location where girls will complete their adventure. Add an Extra Meeting: The meetings are each designed for 90 minutes. It s perfectly OK to add a meeting to your Outdoor Journey plan if you feel girls need more time completing the badge requirements. Prepare to Take Girls Outside: To earn the Adventurer badge, Seniors must set out and complete a multi-day trip with an adventurous activity. Get support from your council and GSUSA for information about best practices for Girl Scouts in the outdoors: Check Safety Activity Checkpoints guidelines before planning any camping trip or outdoor activity. Look for camping videos and more in the Outdoor Resources on the GSUSA website http://www.girlscouts.org/en/adults/volunteer/volunteer-resources/outdoor-resources.html. Explore Venture Out! http://gsuniversity.girlscouts.org/resource/venture-out/, an online resource that provides guidance to volunteers less familiar with taking girls outdoors. Read the book Outdoor Education in Girl Scouting for helpful tips. Read Girl Scout Readiness in Camping in Meeting Aids to get progressive camping tips, from first-time campers to girls who are more experienced campers. Check out the Outdoor Progression Chart here. https://www.girlscouts.org/content/dam/girlscoutsgsusa/forms-and-documents/for-adults/volunteer/gsusa_outdoorprogression.pdf Read Explaining Leave No Trace in Meeting Aids: An important part of preparing girls for the outdoors is to help them understand and embrace the seven basic principles of Leave No Trace. Go to the Leave No Trace website https://lnt.org/teach/leave-no-trace-every-kid to find teaching resources and fun nature camping activities.
Adventurer 1 Make the Most of the Outdoor Journey Use the Talking Points (But Make Them Your Own): In each session, you ll find suggested talking points under the heading SAY. Some volunteers, especially new ones, find it helpful to follow the script. Others use the talking points as a guide and deliver the information in their own words. Either way is just fine. Leave Time for the Closing: If girls are having fun doing an activity, you may be tempted to skip the Closing Ceremony so they can keep going, but the Closing Ceremony is absolutely key to their learning. One of the most important components of any activity is allowing time for the girls to reflect on what they have learned. Research shows that when we use reflection with girls, their learning and enjoyment in activities goes up, so use reflection after activities like a hike or your campout. Ask them about how they felt during the activity. What did they learn? How will they use what they have learned? Did any of the activities ignite a passion that could be used for a Take Action project? Use Girl Scouts Three Processes: Girl-led, learning by doing, cooperative learning: these three processes are the key to making sure girls have fun in Girl Scouts and keep coming back. Make sure the meetings are girl-ed to help create an experience where girls can make choices and have their voices heard. Learning by doing and cooperative learning are built into this Journey, thanks to the hands-on activities and tips. Read Think-Pair-Share in Meeting Aids: Find out how to make sure all girls are heard when making team decisions. Complete the Surveys: Be sure to complete the surveys in the Volunteer Toolkit about your experiences. Your input is important! The data collected is used to enhance the program. If You Have a Multi-Level Troop: Read Tips for Working with Multi-Level Groups for Older Girls in Meeting Aids to get hands-on tips for how to deal with younger girl/older girl scenarios. Prepare Ahead Create and print out the following questionnaire for Activity 1: As Girls Arrive, one for each Senior: Adventure Quiz o How would you describe your adventurous spirit (1 = not at all adventurous and 10 = the scarier the better)? o What adventurous activities have you tried in the past? o What did you like most about them? o What parts made you the most anxious or nervous? o What adventure do you want to try and why? o What adventurer do you admire the most and why? Print Leave No Trace for Older Girls handout from Meeting Aids, one for each Senior, for Activity 3: Leave No Trace. Female adventurers biographies: Before the meeting, email girls to research and find at least three women adventurers or explorers. Have them print out any photographs and information about the
Adventurer 1 women to bring to the meeting. Gather snack items for Activity 5: Marshmallow Tower. Check in advance for any food allergies girls might have. For Activity 6: DIY Survival Kit: Gather materials so girls can make their own survival kit, including enough of each of these items for each girl: o Nylon cord (paracord) o Matches o Birthday candles o Buttons o Finger lights o Index cards o Safety pins o Dental floss o Ibuprofen o Cotton ball o Alcohol wipes o Adhesive bandages o Foil o Duct tape o Key rings (optional) For Activity 6: DIY Survival Kit: Send an email out in advance to parents asking that girls bring an old, empty pill bottle to use. Be sure to mention that parents should scrape off all labels and dispose of any medications properly. For Closing Ceremony, create a list of camp kapers on a dry-erase board or poster board prior to the meeting. Get Help from Your Family and Friends Network Your Friends and Family Network can include: Girls parents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, etc. Other volunteers who have offered to help with the meeting Ask your network to help: Bring art supplies and camping gear for meetings Bring camping supplies and gear for the campout Help plan the menu for the camping trip and do the shopping in advance
Adventurer 1 Bring a camera, smartphone, or video camera to document the meetings and campout Assist with camping activities in meetings Volunteer to go on troop camp outs Award Connection Seniors will not earn a badge in this meeting. They will earn their Adventurer badge at the end of Meeting 2. Note: You can buy the Adventurer badge, one for each Senior, from your council shop or on the Girl Scout website. Meeting Length 90 minutes The times given for each activity may be different depending on how many Seniors are in your troop, so adjust accordingly. Give Seniors 10- and 5-minute warnings before they need to wrap up the last activity so you ll have time for the Closing Ceremony. Some activities might require more time, so add an extra meeting if you need to. MATERIALS LIST Activity 1: As Girls Arrive: Adventure Quiz Printout of Adventure Quiz, one for each Senior Pens, pencils Activity 2: Opening Ceremony: Let the Adventure Begin Flag Girls Adventure Quiz from Activity 1 Female adventurers biographies girls created before meeting Activity 3: Leave No Trace Leave No Trace handout, one for each Senior Activity 4: Teamwork Test None Activity 5: Snack Break: Marshmallow Tower Marshmallows
Adventurer 1 Pretzel sticks Pretzel rods Activity 6: DIY Survival Kit Empty pill bottles, one for each Senior Survival kit materials (one for each girl): o Nylon cord (paracord) o Matches o Birthday candles o Buttons o Finger lights o Index cards o Safety pins o Dental floss o Ibuprofen o Cotton ball o Alcohol wipes o Adhesive bandages o Foil o Duct tape o Key rings (optional) Activity 7: Closing Ceremony: Camp Kapers Whiteboard or large poster board with list of camp kapers DETAILED ACTIVITY PLAN (Note to volunteers: You can hold this meeting in a meeting room or outdoors.) Activity 1: As Girls Arrive: Adventure Quiz Time Allotment 5 minutes Materials Printout of Adventure Quiz, one for each Senior
Adventurer 1 Pens, pencils Steps Welcome Seniors and have them fill out the Adventure Quiz. Take a minute to fill out the quiz to figure out what adventures appeal to you and why. Activity 2: Opening Ceremony: Let the Adventure Begin Time Allotment 15 minutes Materials Flag Girls Adventure Quiz from Activity 1 Female adventurers biographies girls created before meeting Steps Recite the Pledge of Allegiance and the Promise and Law. Seniors share their own adventure experiences and talk about any concerns or what they are excited about trying. Seniors perform a skit to act out. You ll be earning your Adventurer badge, which means you will go on a multi-day trip and have highadventure experiences. When you came in, you all took a quiz about some past experiences, and your adventurous spirit. Who thinks that they are adventurous? If you rated yourself above a 5, raise your hand. Does anyone want to share what makes them adventurous or what draws them to exciting experiences? What about those who may not be adventurous? Why do you think you aren t? Share where girls will be going, the adventures they ll do, and get reactions to the trip. You researched some women adventurers. Pick your favorite and, in one sentence, tell us who she is and in another sentence, the reason you think she s cool.
Adventurer 1 For example: Who she is: Amelia Earhart was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Why you like her: I plan to fly a plane one day and am inspired by her story. Activity 3: Leave No Trace Time Allotment: 10 minutes Materials: Leave No Trace for Older Girls handout, one for each Senior Steps: Have girls talk about ways they will protect nature while in the outdoors. Let s go over the Leave No Trace principles, which you ll be using on your Adventurer trip. I ll name the principle; you share what you think it means. Plan Ahead. (Answer: Plan ahead so you leave nothing behind and protect nature. For example: You will store your food in containers and protect it from wildlife. You will find out about your campsite in advance: for example, where will you trash your trash? Get water? Build a fire? Go on a hike?) Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces. (Answer: Walk only on paths and hard, compact surfaces. Be careful not to step on plants and flowers. Stay on established trails. Camp at established campsites whenever possible.) Dispose of Waste Properly. (Answer: Pack out what you carry in including all trash, toilet paper, leftover food, and litter.) Leave What You Find. (Answer: Leave nature as it is, which means leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them. Don t build structures, dig ditches, or cut healthy trees or bushes. Minimize Campfire Impacts. (Answer: Campfires are a special part of a Girl Scout s outdoor experience. If you do build a campfire, keep
Adventurer 1 it small and make sure it doesn t harm any plants or wildlife. Use an established fire ring, if available. Keep your fire small, and put it out properly.) Respect Wildlife. (Answer: Don t approach, feed, or follow any animals watch them from a distance.) Be Considerate of Other Visitors. (Answer: Respect other visitors so they have a good experience in the outdoors, too. Yield to other users on the trail, camp away from trails and other visitors, keep your voice and noise level down.) Activity 4: Teamwork Test Time Allotment 20 minutes Materials None Steps Girls play a team-building game to test their ability to work as a group. A big part of any adventure campout is being able to work well together as a group. As a group, your goals for this trip are to be safe and have a fun adventure. You ll practice collaboration, communication, and teamwork, which are leadership skills you ll use throughout your lifetime. When you re on your adventure trip, you ll need to divide tasks and functions. Do this team-building exercise to see how in sync your group is: Without saying anything, get into a line, in order, according to your birthday. So, January 1 st would be on one end, and December 31 st would be on the other. The point is for girls to organize themselves without talking. When they line up, ask for birthdates to see if girls are in the right order. Then try it again with height and shoe size. Activity 5: Snack Break: Marshmallow Tower Time Allotment 15 minutes
Adventurer 1 Materials Marshmallows Pretzel sticks Pretzel rods Timer Steps Seniors work on teamwork and snack along the way. Let s see how you work as a team to solve problems together. Break into two teams. Using only marshmallows and pretzel sticks, build a tower as high as you can in 5 minutes. Work together to try different configurations and see what works best. Feel free to also snack on your building supplies! After 5 minutes, take another 10 minutes and plan a menu for the Adventure trip. Have girls come up with simple meals for breakfast-lunch-dinner and snacks for the number of days they need. Activity 6: DIY Survival Kit Time Allotment 25 minutes Materials Empty pill bottles, one for each Senior Survival kit materials (one for each girl): o Nylon cord (paracord) o Matches o Birthday candles o Buttons o Finger lights o Index cards o Safety pins
Adventurer 1 o Dental floss o Ibuprofen o Cotton ball o Alcohol wipes o Adhesive bandages o Foil o Duct tape o Key rings (optional) Steps Seniors talk about what type of gear they will need and create a gear checklist. Seniors also discuss emergency situations that could arise. Seniors build a portable survival kit. Now that you have an adventure in mind, what type of special equipment will you need? What kind of items will you need in case of an emergency? (Have girls think through emergency scenarios and how they d handle them.) One way to handle emergencies, especially if we are in a remote or hard-to-reach area, is to be prepared with a survival kit. It should be something that is small, easy to carry, and holds essentials in real emergency situations. You will make an emergency kit today using the supplies here. Use teamwork strategy to find a way to fit everything you need in a small pill bottle. What are some of the ways in which you might use the items here in an emergency? Answers: o Nylon cord or paracord = can hold a lot of weight if someone or something needs to be lifted o Matches = to start a fire o Birthday candles = help light objects, wax can help o Finger lights = help light the way o Index cards = can be used for a note or as kindling o Safety pins = used as a fishing hook or to hold something together o Dental floss = fishing line o Ibuprofen = ease the pain
Adventurer 1 o Cotton ball = absorbent, can also be firestarter o Alcohol wipes = for cuts o Adhesive bandages = for cuts and scrapes o Foil = to collect rainwater o Duct tape = to hold something together or wound care o Key rings (optional) = to clip it to your jacket or pants Note to volunteer: Everything should fit inside the pill bottle except the nylon cord, which is wound around the outside and knotted. The index card, adhesive bandages, and foil should be folded as small as you can. The duct tape should be ripped off the roll, split in half lengthwise, folded so the sticky sides are stuck together, and then wrapped around your finger. Activity 7: Closing Ceremony: Camp Kapers Time Allotment 10 minutes Materials Whiteboard or large poster board with list of kapers Steps Seniors sit in a circle, volunteer for camp kapers. I ll read some campsite chores and write down your name next to ones you want to do. You can volunteer for more than one thing! Make snacks. Prepare meals. Clean up cooking area. Fire builder. Fire extinguisher. Set table for meals. Clean up after meals. Fill pots for dishwashing. Clean and dry dishes. Help set up sleeping bags or tents.
Adventurer 1 Help take down sleeping bags or tents. Pack up kitchen area before you leave. Clean up campsite area before you leave. Set up washing area with water and buckets. Can you think of more kapers? Now that you know where your adventure will take you, what is one thing you are most looking forward to? End the meeting with a Friendship Squeeze.
Adventurer 2 OVERVIEW Notes to Volunteers: Adventurer Requirements: There are two meetings for Seniors to earn their Adventurer badge. Meeting 1 can be held in a meeting room or outdoors. Meeting 2 is designed to be held at an outdoor location where girls will complete their adventure. Add an Extra Meeting: The meetings are each designed for 90 minutes. It s perfectly OK to add a meeting to your Outdoor Journey plan if you feel girls need more time completing the badge requirements. Prepare to Take Girls Outside: To earn the Adventurer badge, Seniors must set out and complete a multi-day trip with an adventurous activity. Get support from your council and GSUSA for information about best practices for Girl Scouts in the outdoors: Check Safety Activity Checkpoints guidelines before planning any camping trip or outdoor activity. Look for camping videos and more in the Outdoor Resources on the GSUSA website http://www.girlscouts.org/en/adults/volunteer/volunteer-resources/outdoor-resources.html. Explore Venture Out! http://gsuniversity.girlscouts.org/resource/venture-out/, an online resource that provides guidance to volunteers less familiar with taking girls outdoors. Read the book Outdoor Education in Girl Scouting for helpful tips. Read Girl Scout Readiness in Camping in Meeting Aids to get progressive camping tips for first-time campers to girls who are more experienced campers. Check out the Outdoor Progression Chart here. https://www.girlscouts.org/content/dam/girlscoutsgsusa/forms-and-documents/for-adults/volunteer/gsusa_outdoorprogression.pdf Read Explaining Leave No Trace in Meeting Aids: An important part of preparing girls for the outdoors is to help them understand and embrace the seven basic principles of Leave No Trace. Go to the Leave No Trace website https://lnt.org/teach/leave-no-trace-every-kid to find teaching resources and fun nature camping activities. Make the Most of the Outdoor Journey Use the Talking Points (But Make Them Your Own): In each session, you ll find suggested talking points under the heading SAY. Some volunteers, especially new ones, find it helpful to follow the script. Others use the talking points as a guide and deliver the information in their own words. Either way is just fine. Leave Time for the Closing: If girls are having fun doing an activity, you may be tempted to skip the Closing Ceremony so they can keep going, but the Closing Ceremony is absolutely key to their learning. One of the most important components of any activity is allowing time for the girls to reflect on what they have learned. Research shows that when we use reflection with girls, their learning and enjoyment in activities
Adventurer 2 goes up, so use reflection after activities like a hike or your campout. Ask them about how they felt during the activity. What did they learn? How will they use what they have learned? Did any of the activities ignite a passion that could be used for a Take Action project? Use Girl Scouts Three Processes: Girl-led, learning by doing, cooperative learning: these three processes are the key to making sure girls have fun in Girl Scouts and keep coming back. Make sure the meetings are girl-led to help create an experience where girls can make choices and have their voices heard. Learning by doing and cooperative learning are built into this Journey, thanks to the hands-on activities and tips. Read Think-Pair-Share in Meeting Aids: Find out how to make sure all girls are heard when making team decisions. Complete the Surveys: Be sure to complete the surveys in the Volunteer Toolkit about your experiences. Your input is important! The data collected is used to enhance the program. Prepare Ahead Prepare a kaper chart on a poster board for Activity 2: Opening Ceremony. Insert girls names with chores they volunteered for in Meeting 1. Print Leave No Trace for Older Girls handout from Meeting Aids, one for each Senior for Activity 2: Opening Ceremony. Print Camp Checklist handout from Meeting Aids, one for each Senior for Activity 2: Opening Ceremony. For Activity 3: Leave No Trace Toss, write these phrases questions on a deflated beach ball using a permanent marker. (Some answers are in parenthesis to make sure girls get it right, but leave the answers off the beach ball.) o Why might you want to keep your dog on a leash in a park? o Name one land management agency. o How old do you have to be to follow Leave No Trace practices? (any age) o Take only pictures, leave only. (footprints) o What are two alternative ways to remember a pretty flower (other than picking it)? o Be to other visitors! (kind) o If there is a puddle on the trail should you walk through it or around it off trail? (through it) o Name one way you can minimize your campfire impacts. o What is your most memorable outdoor experience? o If wildlife begins to change its behaviors you are probably too. (close) o Pack it in, pack it. (out) o before you go! (know) o What is an alternative to a campfire when camping? (portable stoves for cooking, lanterns for light)
Adventurer 2 o Name two Leave No Trace principles. o What are two things you should always bring with you on a hike? o True or false: It is illegal to take cultural artifacts from public lands. (true) o True or false: You should wash your dishes directly in a stream. (false) o The best campsites are found not? (made) o What is one way you can respect wildlife? o When should you leave a campfire unattended? (never!) o Act out the Leave No Trace principle: Be considerate of other visitors. o Describe your favorite outdoor place. o How long does it take for a banana peel to decompose? (up to 2 years) o When crossing a meadow off-trail should you spread out or travel single file? (spread out) o It s bad to feed wildlife because. o Why is it important to stay on designated trails? Create 3 4 cards one for each Senior group for Activity 4: Selfie Scavenger Hunt. The cards should have 4 5 places to get a selfie such as: o Selfie with trash where it shouldn t be o Selfie with section of the trail that needs maintaining o Selfie with a durable surface o Selfie with a hiker or camper hazard o Selfie where something is not minimizing impact o Selfie with beautiful scenery you d like to protect Get Help from Your Family and Friends Network Your Friends and Family Network can include: Girls parents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, etc. Other volunteers who have offered to help with the meeting Ask your network to help: Bring art supplies and camping gear for meetings Bring camping supplies and gear for the camp out Help plan the menu for camping trip and do the shopping in advance Bring a camera, smartphone, or video camera to document the meetings and campout Assist with camping activities in meetings Volunteer to go on troop campouts
Adventurer 2 Award Connection Seniors will earn their Adventurer badge at the end of Meeting 2. Note: You can buy the Adventurer badge, one for each Senior, from your council shop or on the Girl Scout website. Meeting Length 90 minutes The times given for each activity may be different depending on how many Seniors are in your troop, so adjust accordingly. Give Seniors 10- and 5-minute warnings before they need to wrap up the last activity so you ll have time for the Closing Ceremony. Some activities might require more time, so add an extra meeting if you need to. MATERIALS LIST Activity 1: As Girls Arrive: Leave It Better than You Found It Paper Pens, pencils Activity 2: Opening Ceremony: Setting Up Camp Flag Leave No Trace for Older Girls handout, one for each Senior Printout of Campsite Checklist, one for each Senior Camp kapers poster board Activity 3: Leave No Trace Toss Leave No Trace Beach Ball Activity 4: Selfie Scavenger Hunt Leave It Better Than You Found It ideas from Activity 1 Scavenger hunt card Smartphone camera, one for each group Activity 5: Adventure Power Up Variety of trail mix items Small bags
Adventurer 2 Activity 6: Adventure Awaits Cameras (Optional camp craft or to do when girls are back home) o Mason jar lids o Hot glue and gun o Magnets o Portable digital camera photo developer Activity 7: Closing Ceremony: Adventurer Badge Award Adventurer badge, one for each Senior DETAILED ACTIVITY PLAN (Note to volunteers: This meeting is designed to be held while girls are camping out.) Activity 1: As Girls Arrive: Leave It Better Than You Found It Time Allotment 5 minutes Materials Paper Pens, pencils When you arrived, you set up the campsite. Look around your site, or even go on a short walk nearby, and come up with three ideas for how you could help the environment. Activity 2: Opening Ceremony: Setting Up Camp Time Allotment 15 minutes Materials Flag Leave No Trace for Older Girls handout, one for each Senior Printout of Campsite Checklist, one for each Senior Camp kapers poster board
Adventurer 2 Steps Recite the Pledge of Allegiance and the Promise and Law. Go over camp safety and kaper chart. Remind Seniors about Leave No Trace principles. When you arrived at camp, you set it up. Go over the checklist to see how you did. Is the area for your campsite flat and dry? Is this a previously used campsite? Were the sticks and stones cleared away? Did you set up a separate area for cooking, hand washing, and dishwashing? For your cooking area: Can animals get at your food? Are your coolers stashed in animal-proof containers? Are there two trees nearby where you can tie a rope between them to hang things? For your sleeping area: Are the tents spread out so there isn t too much traffic in one area? Are the openings to your tents facing each other? (Suggest that girls arrange tents in a circle so all openings face each other.) For your fire building area: Are you using a fire ring that is already at the campsite? What kind of sticks are you using to build your fire? (Remind girls that the wood they collect must be dead, fallen wood from the ground, not off live trees.) Are there any trees or plants near your fire ring? What size fire will you make? (Remind girls that smaller fires are better for the environment.) How will you extinguish your fire? (Remind girls they will need a shovel and bucket of water nearby.) Have girls discuss solutions for anything that needs changing. When you leave a campsite, what do you do with your trash? (Answer: Take it out with you or dispose of it
Adventurer 2 in approved trash bins on the campgrounds.) When you leave a campsite, what should it look like? (Answer: As good as or better than you found it.) Give Seniors a Leave No Trace for Older Girls handout. Have any of you practiced Leave No Trace since you arrived at camp? Explain how. Have girls share any Leave No Trace principles they practiced or plan to practice. Your own safety is equally important. What s the buddy system? (Answer: You re paired with another Senior so you can keep watch over each other.) Protect yourself from weather. (Answer: Wear sunscreen and/or a hat when it s sunny and hot, and a raincoat or jacket when it s cold or rainy.) Be careful around a campfire. (Answer: Wear closed-toe shoes. Don t walk over a fire. When you are tending a fire, make sure to tie your hair back or wear a bandana on your head.) Protect your food from wildlife. (Answer: Store food away from tents and out of reach of animals. If necessary, hang food from a rope stretched between two trees and make sure all food is packed in closed containers.) Go over the kaper chart and read the kapers each Senior has volunteered to do. Activity 3: Leave No Trace Toss Time Allotment 15 minutes Materials Leave No Trace beach ball Steps Play Leave No Trace beach ball toss game. Let s see how well you know Leave No Trace. Stand in a circle and toss the beach ball around. On the third toss, whoever catches it, read what it says
Adventurer 2 closest to either one of your thumbs. Read it out loud to the group. After the ball toss, ask girls how they would teach these principles to younger girls or other campers. Activity 4: Selfie Scavenger Hunt Time Allotment 20 minutes Materials Leave It Better Than You Found It ideas from Activity 1 Scavenger hunt card Smartphone camera, one for each group Steps Girls break into groups and take a hike to find areas where they could make a difference. Along the hike, they take selfies with things or areas they find. Even though you re here for an adventure, you ll want to leave the area better than you found it so others can also experience an adventure here. Break into groups, and have fun with a selfie scavenger hunt while you look for areas that could use some improving. Meet back at camp in 15 minutes and share the best photos you found. When you get home, you can send the photos and an explanation to an area manager, or perhaps work on a Take Action project to help. (Note to volunteers: You could ask local managers or rangers to accompany the groups to give them more information about the area.) Activity 5: Adventure Power Up Time Allotment 15 min Materials Variety of trail mix items including granola, chocolate chips, dried fruit
Adventurer 2 Small bags Steps Seniors make their own trail mix to bring on their adventure. Make your own trail mix based on your own likes, and what you think will fuel you up for your adventure. While you are assembling your snack, discuss what you are most excited about and what you might be most nervous about. Are there strategies you use to calm your nerves? Activity 6: Adventure Awaits Time Allotment 15 minutes Materials Cameras (Optional for camp craft or to do when girls are back home) o Mason jar lids o Hot glue and gun o Magnets o Portable digital camera photo developer Steps Seniors go on their adventure, taking photos along the way of things that inspired them while on the trip. (Optional: After the trip, if in a remote area: Make fridge magnets to remember the epic adventure.) While on your adventure, remember to document what you see that inspires you. It can be something like a scenic shot, your friends having fun, or wildlife. Or, it can be something afterward or before the adventure itself. Each girl should take at least two photos of something that inspires her. When you get back, you can print the images and create magnets. To create the magnets: Using the ring of the Mason jar, trace the outer edge of the jar on your photo and cut. Hot glue the photo inside the ring, and then attach small magnets to the back of the lid with hot glue.
Adventurer 2 Activity 7: Closing Ceremony: Adventurer Badge Award Time Allotment 5 minutes Materials Adventurer badge, one for each Senior Steps Seniors sit in a circle and get their Adventurer badges. What s been the best part about your Adventurer experience? How were you most challenged on your adventure? What would you tell others about this adventure? What would you do differently next time? What did you learn about yourself through the adventure? Give each Senior an Adventurer badge. End the meeting with a Friendship Squeeze.
First Aid 1 OVERVIEW Notes to Volunteers: About the Senior Outdoor Journey: The Senior Outdoor Journey consists of three badges: Adventurer, First Aid, Adventure Camper, and three Take Action meetings. To complete the Journey, have girls complete the meetings in the following order: Adventurer badge (2 meetings) First Aid badge (2 meetings) Adventure Camper badge (2 meetings) Take Action (3 meetings) First Aid Requirements: There are two meetings for Seniors to earn their First Aid badge. Girls must be CPR certified before earning this badge. (Note to volunteers: For girls who are not CPR certified, you can hold an extra meeting for girls to learn CPR from a qualified instructor or your group can attend a CPR training class together.) In order to qualify for other certification, such as for lifeguard or wilderness first aid, girls will need to complete a first aid certification course by a GSUSA-approved provider. Add an Extra Meeting: The meetings are each designed for 90 minutes. It s perfectly OK to add a meeting to your Outdoor Journey plan if you feel girls need more time completing the badge requirements. Prepare to Take Girls Outside: To earn the First Aid badge, it is recommended that Seniors go outside for many of the activities. Get support from your council and GSUSA for information about best practices for Girl Scouts in the outdoors: Check Safety Activity Checkpoints guidelines before planning any outdoor activity. The First Aid requirements are updated to include new procedures and the type of supplies and equipment available. Explore Venture Out! http://gsuniversity.girlscouts.org/resource/venture-out/, an online resource that provides guidance to volunteers less familiar with taking girls outdoors. Read the book Outdoor Education in Girl Scouting for helpful tips. Read Explaining Leave No Trace in Meeting Aids: An important part of preparing girls for the outdoors is to help them understand and embrace the seven basic principles of Leave No Trace. Make the Most of the Outdoor Journey Use the Talking Points (But Make Them Your Own): In each session, you ll find suggested talking points under the heading SAY. Some volunteers, especially new ones, find it helpful to follow the script. Others use the talking points as a guide and deliver the information in their own words. Either way is just fine.
First Aid 1 Leave Time for the Closing: If girls are having fun doing an activity, you may be tempted to skip the Closing Ceremony so they can keep going, but the Closing Ceremony is absolutely key to their learning. One of the most important components of any activity is allowing time for the girls to reflect on what they have learned. Research shows that when we use reflection with girls, their learning and enjoyment in activities goes up, so use reflection after activities like a hike or your campout. Ask them about how they felt during the activity. What did they learn? How will they use what they have learned? Did any of the activities ignite a passion that could be used for a Take Action project? Use Girl Scouts Three Processes: Girl-led, learning by doing, cooperative learning: these three processes are the key to making sure girls have fun in Girl Scouts and keep coming back. Make sure the meetings are girl-led to help create an experience where girls can make choices and have their voices heard. Learning by doing and cooperative learning are built into this Journey, thanks to the hands-on activities and tips. Read Think-Pair-Share in Meeting Aids: Find out how to make sure all girls are heard when making team decisions. Complete the Surveys: Be sure to complete the surveys in the Volunteer Toolkit about your experiences. Your input is important! The data collected is used to enhance the program. If You Have a Multi-Level Troop: Read Tips for Working with Multi-Level Groups for Older Girls in Meeting Aids to get hands-on tips for how to deal with younger girl/older girl scenarios. Prepare Ahead Recruit extra volunteers or older girls to accompany you during outdoor activities. Recruit volunteers who are experienced with first aid procedures. Make sure the girls are CPR certified before embarking on this badge. Have enough first aid supplies for Activity 6. Get Help from Your Family and Friends Network Note to Volunteers: Ask a first responder such as a firefighter, ambulance worker, or police officer to come and share their experience with the girls. Or you can have a doctor or nurse come and talk about the hospital experience. If you can t find a guest speaker to attend the meeting, it might help to at least interview a professional ahead of time and get their perspective to share with the girls. Your Friends and Family Network can include: Girls parents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, etc. Other volunteers who have offered to help with the meeting. Volunteers who are experienced with first aid procedures Ask your network to help: Bring first aid supplies and gear
First Aid 1 Bring a camera, smartphone, or video camera to document the meeting Volunteer to assist with first-aid activities Award Connection Seniors will not earn a badge in this meeting. They will earn their First Aid badge at the end of Meeting 2. Note: You can buy the First Aid badge, one for each Senior, from your council shop or on the Girl Scout website. Meeting Length 90 minutes The times given for each activity may be different depending on how many Seniors are in your troop, so adjust accordingly. Give Seniors 10- and 5-minute warnings before they need to wrap up the last activity so you ll have time for the Closing Ceremony. Some activities might require more time, so add an extra meeting if you need to. MATERIALS LIST Activity 1: As Girls Arrive: Inside ER Poster board or whiteboard Markers, pens Activity 2: Opening Ceremony: Triage and First Aid Poster board or whiteboard from first activity Flag Activity 3: Head Injuries Computers for girls to do research, or first-aid and emergency medical books for research Activity 4: Neck Injuries Computers for girls to do research, or first-aid and emergency medical books for research Activity 5: Calm and First Aid Healthy snacks Calming tea or smoothie Activity 6: Packing a First-Aid Kit Small bag or container for girls to place items
First Aid 1 First aid items: o Sanitizing hand wipes or hand sanitizer o Adhesive bandages o Scissors o Gauze pad o Roll of adhesive tape o Alcohol o Cotton swabs o Tweezers o Thermometer o Aspirin o Antibiotic ointment o Ice pack o Plastic medical gloves o Emergency blanket o Pens or markers o Index cards for each girl Activity 7: Closing Ceremony: None DETAILED ACTIVITY PLAN (Note to volunteers: You can begin this meeting in a meeting room, but will have to go outside at night for part of the activities.) Activity 1: As Girls Arrive: Inside ER Time Allotment 5 minutes Materials Poster board or whiteboard Markers, pens
First Aid 1 Steps Welcome Seniors and have them write all the possible emergency room conditions that they can come up with. An emergency room doctor sees every possible condition that patients might have, from burns to illness. Their job is to make an on-the-spot diagnosis, often life-saving ones. On the poster board, write down any condition you can think of that an emergency room physician might be faced with. Activity 2: Opening Ceremony: Triage and First Aid Time Allotment 15 minutes Materials Poster board or whiteboard from first activity Flag Steps Gather girls in a circle and welcome them to the First Aid meeting. Girls recite the Pledge of Allegiance and the Promise and Law. Have them describe a time they needed medical attention or had to give medical attention to someone else. As a Girl Scout Senior, you are on the go between home, school, and your activities. You never know when you ll find yourself in the middle of an emergency. Would you know what to do? Have any of you ever needed medical attention or had to give medical attention to someone else? Please share your story! By earning this badge, you ll learn to tell the difference between minor and major injuries. Triage is the process of sorting patients based on the severity of their injuries. It s what emergency room doctors have to do every day. In what type of situation do you think triage is performed? Answer: In a situation where several people are injured, such as a train wreck or boating accident. Share some of the conditions you came up with for emergency room doctors. Some conditions might be: Car accident injuries
First Aid 1 Sports injuries Burns Appendicitis Broken bones, cuts from falls Heart attack, chest pain Loss of vision or hearing Unconsciousness Drug overdose Food poisoning High fever Breathing problems: asthma, pneumonia Allergic reaction from insect bite, food, medications Have girls share emergency room conditions and talk about whether they think they re minor or major and which ones require immediate attention. When you witness an emergency, does anyone know the steps to take? First you check to make sure the area is safe before rushing to someone s aid. Then you call 911. Then offer care to the injured person. Activity 3: Head Injuries Time Allotment 20 minutes Materials Computers for girls to do research, or first-aid and emergency medical books for research Steps Girls research and role-play to find out how to handle head injuries and not complicate or make an injury worse. Head injuries require special care and can complicate CPR or rescue breathing. Break into 3 groups each group will research how to assist a specific head injury victim and then role-play what you learned for the group.
First Aid 1 Group 1: The head injury is from a blow to the head by an object but it did not break the skull. Your patient is unconscious. Group 2: The head injury is from a blow to the head by an object that penetrated the skull and entered the brain. (Could be from a car accident or gunshot wound.) Group 3: The head injury is a concussion from being shaken, a sports accident, or a fall. Have girls role-play the situation and what they would do. Learning to recognize a serious head injury and give basic first aid can save someone s life. What s the first step? (Answer: Call 911. Make sure the scene is safe.) What are some signs to get medical help right away after a head injury? (Possible answers: If she becomes sleepy, behaves abnormally, has a severe headache or stiff neck, if her pupils are unequal sizes, if she s unable to move an arm or leg, if she loses consciousness, or vomits.) What are some things you can do? Possible answers: Check the person s breathing and see if she needs CPR. Stop any bleeding by pressing a clean cloth firmly on the wound. Do not move the person s head unless she s vomiting, even then only do so with a medical professional s guidance. Apply ice packs to swollen areas. If it s a concussion, make sure the person is monitored for at least 24 hours. She will need to be awakened every two hours to make sure she responds normally. What are some things you shouldn t do? Possible answers: Do not... Wash a deep head wound with a lot of blood. Remove any objects sticking out of a wound. Move the person unless necessary Shake the person if she seems dazed. Remove a helmet if you think there is a serious head injury.
First Aid 1 Activity 4: Neck Injuries Time Allotment 20 minutes Materials Computers for girls to do research, or first-aid and emergency medical books for research Steps Girls research and role-play to find out how to handle neck injuries and not complicate or make an injury worse. Just like head injuries, neck injuries require special care. Break into 2 groups and research how to assist a neck injury victim and then role-play what you learned for the group. Group 1: The neck injury is from falling off a hiking trail. The patient ran into a tree. Her neck and back are in odd positions. Group 2: The neck injury is from a car accident. The driver has extreme neck pain and stiffness from whiplash. She can t raise her head from a pillow. Group 3: The neck injury is from a skiing or kayaking accident and the girl is still in the water. Have girls role-play the situation and what they would do. Just like a head injury, learning to recognize a serious neck injury and give basic first aid can save someone s life. What s the first step? (Answer: Call 911. Make sure the scene is safe.) What are some signs to get medical help right away after a neck injury? (Possible answers: If she s in severe pain, if she can t move her head or neck, if she has numbness or weakness or loss of movement in arms and legs, if she has any unusual feeling or sensations.) What are some things you can do? Possible answers: Tell the patient to lie still and not move her neck or head until help arrives. Keep the person warm with blankets or covering.
First Aid 1 Make sure head, neck and spine are in a neutral position, if possible, for example by placing towels at either side of the head. If the girl is still in the water, do not move her. Try to find a board or something to put underneath her to stabilize her body and make sure she doesn t move. Be aware of the potential for hypothermia. What are some things you shouldn t do? Possible answers: Do not: Move the person unless necessary. Shake the person if she seems dazed. Remove a helmet if you think there is a serious head injury. Roll a person alone or without professional medical assistance. Activity 5: Snack Break: Calm and First Aid Time Allotment 10 minutes Materials Healthy snacks Calming tea or smoothie Steps As the girls take a break, talk about emergencies and first aid, and the importance of staying calm. A big part of handling emergencies is to try and stay calm. Giving first aid can be scary for the person who is trying to help, as well as the patient. What are some ways that you stay calm in emergency situations? Girls might say: Take a deep breath. Pause if you are feeling panicky or confused. Find a first-aid kit, if possible. Why is it important to stay calm? Girls might say: To help figure out what the emergency situation is. To be able to be able to plan your next step.
First Aid 1 Also remember that emergency situations may change so you may need to keep assessing it. Always make sure the scene is safe. For example, if you re in around a fire or near a flood, you may need to find shelter. If you re near a car accident, stay out of the road. If you re near something that could combust, leave the area immediately. Watch for debris hiding under things that have fallen. Be aware of everything happening around you. Activity 6: Packing a First-Aid Kit Time Allotment 15 Minutes Materials: First aid items: o Sanitizing hand wipes or hand sanitizer o Adhesive bandages o Scissors o Gauze pad o Roll of adhesive tape o Alcohol o Cotton swabs o Tweezers o Thermometer o Aspirin o Antibiotic ointment o Ice pack o Plastic medical gloves o Emergency blanket o Pens or markers o Index cards for each girl Steps Spread all the first aid items out on a table and have girls identify items for a first-aid kit. When you go on a camping trip, you ll be asked to bring a first-aid kit. You might also want one for your backpack, at home, or at school to be ready if someone (or you!) needs first aid. Part of giving good first aid is being prepared with the right items to treat a minor injury.
First Aid 1 What should you have in your portable first-aid kit? Have girls take turns to pick items off the table one by one, say what it is, how it would be used, and add it to the first-aid kit. Which of these items would you bring on a camping trip? (All!) Are there things you would add? Like a flashlight to see in the dark? Something for bug or snake bites? Water? (Always!) Which of these items would you like to carry in your backpack? Activity 7: Closing Ceremony: First Aid Take Action Time Allotment 5 Minutes Materials None Steps Girls brainstorm Take Action ideas and careers for First Aid skills. Knowing CPR and earning the First Aid badge are great steps towards helping people. Did any of the activities or research you ve done so far spark an idea for a Take Action project? Keep a list of any ideas girls might have. If you ve enjoyed learning about first aid so far, what kind of career do you think you might want to explore? Girls might say: Military doctor Emergency medical technician Emergency room doctor Pharmacist CPR instructor Nurse Next meeting we ll be going outdoors to do a mock emergency drill so make sure to wear clothes for outdoors and sunscreen, too! End the meeting with a friendship squeeze.
First Aid 2 OVERVIEW Notes to Volunteers: First Aid Requirements: There are two meetings for Seniors to earn their First Aid badge. Girls must be CPR certified before earning this badge. (Note to volunteers: For girls who are not CPR certified, you can hold an extra meeting for girls to learn CPR from a qualified instructor or your group can attend a CPR training class together.) In order to qualify for other certification, such as for lifeguard or wilderness first aid, girls will need to complete a first aid certification course by a GSUSA-approved provider. Add an Extra Meeting: The meetings are each designed for 90 minutes. It s perfectly OK to add a meeting to your Outdoor Journey plan if you feel girls need more time completing the badge requirements. Prepare to Take Girls Outside: To earn the First Aid badge, it is recommended that Seniors go outside for many of the activities. Get support from your council and GSUSA for information about best practices for Girl Scouts in the outdoors: Check Safety Activity Checkpoints guidelines before planning any outdoor activity. The First Aid requirements are updated to include new procedures and the type of supplies and equipment available. Explore Venture Out! http://gsuniversity.girlscouts.org/resource/venture-out/, an online resource that provides guidance to volunteers less familiar with taking girls outdoors. Read the book Outdoor Education in Girl Scouting for helpful tips. Read Explaining Leave No Trace in Meeting Aids: An important part of preparing girls for the outdoors is to help them understand and embrace the seven basic principles of Leave No Trace. Make the Most of the Outdoor Journey Use the Talking Points (But Make Them Your Own): In each session, you ll find suggested talking points under the heading SAY. Some volunteers, especially new ones, find it helpful to follow the script. Others use the talking points as a guide and deliver the information in their own words. Either way is just fine. Leave Time for the Closing: If girls are having fun doing an activity, you may be tempted to skip the Closing Ceremony so they can keep going, but the Closing Ceremony is absolutely key to their learning. One of the most important components of any activity is allowing time for the girls to reflect on what they have learned. Research shows that when we use reflection with girls, their learning and enjoyment in activities goes up, so use reflection after activities like a hike or your campout. Ask them about how they felt during the activity. What did they learn? How will they use what they have learned? Did any of the activities ignite a passion that could be used for a Take Action project? Use Girl Scouts Three Processes: Girl-led, learning by doing, cooperative learning: these three processes are the key to making sure girls have fun in Girl Scouts and keep coming back. Make sure the meetings are